BETTY AND VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST MAGAZINE #152 (August, 2007) Thoughts and Comments

written: Friday, March 13, 2009, 1:00 PM - 3:09 PM, 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM; Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 12:00 PM - 1:55 PM; Friday, March 20, 2009, 8:00 PM - 9:18 PM; Saturday, March 21, 2009, 8:00 PM - 10:33 PM; Sunday, March 22, 2009, 12:35 PM - 12:52 PM


Note: I am reviewing only the new stories in this digest.


The front cover shows Betty and Midge standing in front of Riverdale Cinema with their hands on their hips. Veronica, holding a cup in her left hand, is leaving with Nick. The text at the top reads "See Betty and Veronica in a dynamic new look! Read: "Bad Boy Trouble"! Part 2". This scene is meant to occur during Part 1, but it's unclear if Betty and Midge left the theater or not, and Veronica's cup is a different color. It would have been better, if the covers for #151 and #152 were swapped. The cover is by Steven and Milgrom.


First, there's a 1-page recap of Part 1.


Bad Boy Trouble!, Part Two
by Melanie J. Morgan
Character(s): Betty and Veronica (my observation)
27 pages

I've already reviewed "Bad News Boyfriend", the novel that this comic story is based on. If you haven't already done so, please read that review first.

Okay, before we get into the story, let's talk about the artwork. It continues to be gorgeous. In this part, Archie, Ms. Grundy, Professor Flutesnoot, Dilton, Jughead, Moose, Chuck, and Nancy make their "dynamic new look" debuts. Ms. Grundy looks like death warmed over, but that's what she looked like early on, anyway. They gave Jughead a goatee, which fits in nicely with his slacker persona (he's too lazy to shave).

Because this is an adaptation of an earlier story (which I already summarized in detail), I won't do that again here. Instead, I'm going to point out the differences (additions, removals, compressions, etc.) and comment on each as I go along.

Part Two of "Bad Boy Trouble!" adapts chapters 4-6 of "Bad News Boyfriend". It's adapting pages 32-61 of the novel (28 prose pages) in 27 comic pages.

The hallway scene is condensed. Betty's recollection of Sunday and feelings regarding Veronica have been removed. Midge is already with Betty. Instead of pulling out her biology book, Betty puts her geometry book into her locker. Jughead is removed from the scene. Archie doesn't overhear anything but merely asks how the girls' weekend was (thereby removing Betty and Archie's Sunday date). Midge almost tells Archie about Nick, but Betty slams her locker shut, explains about the horror movie, and gets Midge to keep quiet about Nick. Archie is suspicious that they're being secretive about something but isn't as nosey as he is in the novel. Midge, not Betty, defends their right to privacy and talks about the boxing. Archie practices punches in the hallway and bumps into two "underclassmen", not just a freshman. Midge briefly touches upon Archie's clumsiness instead of Betty. Betty's joke is removed.

The homeroom scene is condensed. Jughead is removed from this scene as well. Some new material appears here in which Ms. Grundy (not "Miss Grundy"; nice update) reminds Archie of the English homework that he forgot to read. This addition is meant to convey verbally the information regarding classes from Betty's narrative. The bell doesn't ring to begin homeroom. The morning announcements are cut. Midge may or may not be reading a note from Big Moose (the comic version doesn't specify). Betty's information regarding Moose, Veronica, and Reggie's homeroom(s) is cut. Archie wants to hurry to biology class (his first class of the day with Veronica) to tell Veronica about his boxing match, but Betty tells him to slow down. Why? He's gonna meet Nick eventually, anyway.

The next hallway scene is condensed. Archie and Betty's feelings regarding Professor Flutesnoot are cut. Midge's joke and Betty's feelings regarding science are cut as well. There's no mention of the room being close. Jughead is removed from this scene as well. Archie sees Veronica with Nick right away (no one waits in the hall). Betty's silence and mention of Nick's strange effect on people is cut. The waving is cut. Archie simply asks who he is, and Betty tells him. Only Betty, not Midge, tells him about Nick. This is also when Betty says she wanted to let Veronica tell him. Archie doesn't say "Ooh." That's just as well, since it seems odd in the novel. The greetings are cut. Veronica introduces Archie to Nick (as opposed to Betty introducing Nick to Archie) and tells him (not Betty and Midge) that Nick is in most of their classes (not just her homeroom and biology class). Archie isn't angered by this but still gets angered at Nick's insults. Betty tells Archie to calm down instead of the bell preventing anything from happening. Veronica calls Nick "comical".

The biology class scene is condensed. The bell rings when they're in the classroom. Professor Flutesnoot, not Veronica, introduces Nick as a new student. Everything until Nick sits is cut, but he sits elsewhere than in the novel. The bits regarding Nick, Betty, and Veronica are cut and replaced with Veronica offering a pen and paper to Nick and Nick's thoughts regarding Moose (who originally wasn't in this scene), Archie, Jughead (who finally appears), and Dilton. Nick makes clucking (not squeaking) noises twice (not three times). Betty isn't amused by it as she is in the novel. Betty's hesitation isn't given a reason (in the novel, she doesn't want to lie but also doesn't want to squeal and get Veronica mad at her). There's no indication that Betty feels bad, and she thanks Archie (which she doesn't do in the novel). Professor Flutesnoot accompanies Nick to Mr. Weatherbee's office instead of sending him with a note. There's no mention of Nick setting a record. Nick may or may not blow a kiss to Veronica (it might be merely a wave). In place of Professor Flutesnoot resuming his lecture, Veronica feels sorry for Nick, blames Professor Flutesnoot, and tells the others to help "Nicky" fit in and make an extra effort. She also indicates Nick will be joining them for lunch, which gets Jughead interested. Note: Chuck and Nancy (who are not in the novel) have silent cameos in this scene.

Betty's summary of the events until lunch are cut.

The lunch scene is condensed. Betty, not Midge, asks Archie what he thinks of Nick. Everyone seems to be eating generic school lunches. Reggie, who's already there, comments positively on one of Nick's jokes. Archie doesn't make a joke. Midge doesn't recount the incident. Moose is replaced by Chuck at the table. Midge, not Dilton, says Nick may not be here next Fall and mentions Nick getting in trouble in Ms. Smith's (not Miss Riley's) history class but stops at giving the reason without any of the follow-up material. Betty isn't at all optimistic about Veronica realizing the truth about Nick (the exact opposite of what she says in the novel). Archie doesn't ask where Veronica is. There's no mention of Veronica having a "regular seat" at the table. Betty, not Dilton, announces her arrival with Nick. Since Veronica already announced Nick would be joining them for lunch, the conversation about it here is cut. Nick doesn't sit down. Nick and Archie's argument omits mentions of teachers and focuses on just the students. Everything else until Veronica wants lunch is cut. Archie doesn't grimace. Veronica orders a juice in addition to a salad but doesn't offer Nick the option to get something for himself. We don't see how much money that Veronica was going to give Nick. This is when Jughead arrives with his lunch (later than in the novel). Veronica doesn't compliment Nick. Archie offers to drive Veronica down to Pop Tate's after school for a pizza, not a soda. Veronica doesn't apologize. Archie doesn't tell her to have a good time. He says he's finished with lunch without any prompt from Betty but doesn't say where he's going (in the novel, it's to get changed early for gym). Midge and Chuck leave, too. Reggie disappears for the rest of the scene (in the novel, he and Moose leave with Archie). Dilton arrives (later than in the novel), and Betty invites him to sit next to her. There's no mention of Betty being in gym class. Nick's tray has Veronica's juice in place of the drinks from the novel. Nick doesn't specify who he cut in front of. Veronica, not Jughead, explains where everybody is. Betty doesn't comment on Nick's lack of exercise. Everything else is cut until the sweating discussion. Betty, not Midge, says Midge, not Veronica, doesn't like phys-ed class. Betty is annoyed at Veronica's correction of "perspire". Jughead, not Veronica, asks Nick where he got the sandwiches. Nick makes up dumb excuses instead of saying they were a gift (until later). Nick's cookies and cigarettes are cut. Betty angrily expresses her surprise that Nick didn't steal some dessert, which is what leads to Nick snatching Dilton's dessert pie (not Dilton angering Nick). Betty demands Nick to give it back. Dilton relents. No mention is made of Dilton being in gym class or Betty feeling sorry for Dilton. Veronica, not Betty, offers some information about Dilton (but not that he's not participating in the boxing lessons at the center). Nick says he'll pay Dilton for the pie in gym class, which he doesn't do in the novel. Betty decides to get to gym. Veronica offers to show Nick the gym instead of Betty saying Veronica can show him and Veronica telling Betty to go ahead. Veronica stays at the table with Jughead. Betty doesn't say bye to Jughead. Jughead doesn't wave. The trash can stop is cut.

The next hallway scene is condensed. Betty doesn't express her confusion or uncertainty and instead tells Nick why she doesn't like him. Nick and Betty don't talk about friends. Instead, Nick plays himself up. Betty and Nick's conversation for the rest of the scene is pretty much the same, but Betty ditches Nick in the comic (whereas she doesn't in the novel). The bells don't ring, and students don't enter the hall.

Betty's summary of later events and her feelings regarding them are cut.

The next hallway scene is condensed. There's also a bit of a stretching of Nick's stay in Riverdale, since this scene takes place "weeks later", and Nick's total stay in Riverdale is one month in the novel. There's no mention of the homework assignment. Nancy walks down the hall with Betty, and they chat a bit, whereas Nancy isn't in the novel. Midge isn't visibly angry and even grins. The conversation and general tone is changed. Betty mentions Midge is a hall monitor and guesses Nick wanted her to forge him a late pass for Ms. Grundy's class. Betty's desires of violence against Nick by Moose are cut. Instead, Betty oddly asks if Midge told Moose about this, and Midge didn't in order to prevent violence against Nick for Veronica's sake. Veronica meets Betty in the hallway instead of in the girls' room. There's no mention of Polly. Betty initially refuses to go along with Veronica's plan (which she doesn't do in the novel), and the reason is changed from Veronica wanting to cover up the date to Betty bending her parents' one-guest-when-alone rule. Betty doesn't have any additional conditions or think she sounds just like a parent. Veronica doesn't kiss Betty on the cheek (darn it). Nick joins them (he's absent from this scene in the novel). Betty considers herself a lady and doesn't mention what Nick is.

The English lit class scene is condensed. Betty, not Veronica, wonders where Nick is. He's shown roaming the hallway. Ms. Grundy doesn't take attendance or ask for the homework from the class. Nick doesn't physically threaten Ms. Grundy. The class' initial reaction to Nick's outburst isn't shown. Ms. Grundy accompanies Nick to Mr. Weatherbee's office and instructs the class to read silently instead of sending Nick by himself. Instead of Veronica looking shocked and simply sympathizing with Nick, there's a heated discussion in which Dilton, Midge, and Betty point out Nick's flaws, and Veronica defends Nick. Instead of wondering what it would take to make Veronica see Nick for what he really is, Betty gives up in frustration.

Well, that's the second part of "Bad Boy Trouble!". The story has more room to breathe in this part. Still, Betty's personal observations and opinions from the novel are completely gone.

The gorgeous artwork is pretty much all that this adaptation has going for it. Storywise, the novel is much better.


1-page special:

Cookie Choice (Betty, word scramble)


Reprinted stories:

"Friendly Competition"
by Unknown
Character(s): Betty and Veronica
5 pages

"Fit Bit"
by Unknown
Character(s): Veronica
1 page

"Tear On the Dotted Line"
by Unknown
Character(s): Betty and Veronica
5 pages

Dial Tone
by Unknown
Character(s): Betty and Veronica
1 page

"Auto Magic"
by Unknown
Character(s): Betty and Veronica
6 pages


1-page special:

Real Bad Hair Day (Veronica, letter arrangement puzzle)


Reprinted stories:

"Weights and Measures"
by Unknown
Character(s): Archie
6 pages

"Team Esteem" Parts I and II
by Unknown
Character(s): Betty and Veronica
11 pages

The Believer
by Unknown
Character(s): Jughead
1 page

"Yankee Doodle Darling"
by Unknown
Character(s): Betty and Veronica
5 pages

"The Big Countdown"
by Unknown
Character(s): Betty
6 pages

"We're in the Money"
by Unknown
Character(s): Betty and Veronica
5 pages


1-page special:

Learn To Draw Veronica (by Dan DeCarlo)


Reprinted stories:

"The Challenge"
by Unknown
Character(s): Betty and Veronica
5 pages

"An Exercise In Finance"
by Unknown
Character(s): Betty and Veronica
5 pages


1-page special:

Learn To Draw Betty (by Dan DeCarlo)


Reprinted stories:

"Flower Stall"
by Unknown
Character(s): Betty and Veronica
5 pages

"Fit To Be Tired"
by Unknown
Character(s): Betty
5 pages


1-page special:

Untitled (follow Betty's curve ball to string together a sentence)


Reprinted stories:

"Customer Dis-Service"
by Unknown
Character(s): Betty and Veronica
6 pages

Pin Up
by Unknown
Character(s): Betty and Veronica
1 page

"The Good Earth"
by Unknown
Character(s): Veronica
5 pages


2-page advice column, Dear Betty & Veronica, by Sara Algase


Reprinted stories:

"Net Regret"
by Unknown
Character(s): Betty and Veronica
5 pages

Stew Style
by Unknown
Character(s): Betty and Veronica
1 page


1-page special:

Untitled (Betty, word scramble)


Reprinted stories:

"The Mall" Parts I and II
by Unknown
Character(s): Betty & Veronica
11 pages

"Jelly Bread"
by Unknown
Character(s): Archie
6 pages

"Keep On Truckin'"
by Unknown
Character(s): Veronica
6 pages


1-page special:

Bikini Fashion Page (Betty)


Reprinted stories:

Pin Up
by Unknown
Character(s): Veronica
1 page

The Quitter
by Unknown
Character(s): Mr. Lodge
5 pages

"Hoop-De-Doo"
by Unknown
Character(s): Archie
6 pages

"Poor Thing"
by Unknown
Character(s): Betty and Veronica
5 pages


This issue is pretty enjoyable. Recommended.